, 1887-12-25
; for creation, the talent of interpreta.

WY, "plobibDCus NAioD AhA0 10 "Ah1b
made them the best friends on earth.
A few summers since, at the close of
the regular season at this Chicago theater,
such changes came as threw both Prof.
Pott and Joe out of the orchestra which
had been their nightly paradise. Here
and there they drifted, beaten and buffet
ed, but standing sturdily together, until
as the first autumn leaves tell they were
seen at the St Paul Opera-housc with
one of those Grand Star Combinations
which-how many an honest actor has
leaned it-carry more posters than prop
critics more promises than people, more
sighings than salaries, and leave in their
wake, when destruction comes, only busy
baliffs and broken hopes.
For n little time, a great glory zane up
on the Professor and Joe. Though the
manager was .
HAL the time in Jail,
HALF the time on bail"
though no people ever came, though no
salaries were ever paid, aud though a wan
and hungry look had settled upon his com
p%aniOns' faces, he had become the leader
Of an orchestral He had risen to bright
heights of experience in the realization of
his own inspiration and aspiration, while
Joe, at his masters feet, paid affections
tribute to genius.
But soon the curtain was rung down to
remain. The lights were turned out on
this Grand Star Combination for the last
lime. 1t suddenly became very, very
dark to Pott and Joe. There was moth.
ing behind; there seemed nothing beyond.
So they took to the road together.
Professor Potts voice was melancholy
at best. The old violin only tuned to
unpro md mora ,nourpF.l aalnpaao Re-
pleasant Minnesota tarm-houses; at the
sooty doors of musical cross-road smith
les; near groups of sturdy plowmen,
drawn from the fields to the roadside; in
brisk and pretty hamlets; at busy stage
stations; the Professor sang and played
while hopeful Joe bravely presented the
ragged hat But there had grown to be
that hating in Potts manner that hesita-
ting in his singing; and that lcssening
faith in himself; which so voiced in ballad
and violin that, though all listened, but
few rewarded.
On Gods green earth were never W
more woebegone, footsore and heartsore
creatures than the two that crept into the
pretty little city of Sank Center, on the
old Abercrombie stage road, that glorious
Minnesota autumn evening; crept in there
ragged, hungry, exhausted, wrecked and
reckless v~agabonds as they were. The
Professors usually calm and philosophic
face was invisible beneath the dust upon
it; and something like tears had plowed
their way from the corners of Joe's eyes,
giving him a particularly currish and sus.
picious look.
"A hard lot that was the verdict as
they limped along, shrinking from the
smart things the town s%tragglers had to
say of them. They finally reached the
principal street corner and halted IN front
of a largo hotel. 1t was fast becoming
night, and the professor at once tuned
the old violin and raised his husky voice
He sang most wretchedly, but played
most tenderly. Joe seemed to look upon
it as an unworthy performance, and passed
the ragged hat gingetly-alert for kicks
as well AS pennies. But he got neither.
Again the Professor played and n
and, az Joe was going the i%ruitless
rounds again, there suddenly emerged
from a near groggery a smart, military
appearing person-thc City Marshal
carrying a huge cane, who shouted
"Whool-what's all this2 Tramps, eh?
Git out o hcrcl Lively nowl-l say
CIR
The law Is mighty and it prevailed.
Pott and Joe were hustled out Of the
town with a rush, sages of the place APP
planding the urchins who stoned them as
they went.
To have seen Pott casting scared g%lances
in upon happy cottage homes as he sped
by; to have heard the great cry of his
heart for Just one human souls kindly
greeting and succor as he fastened out in
to the night; and to have caught a
glimpse of the terror-stricken Joe, rs,
with his masters hat still in his teeth, he
skulked along, cycling him askance in
first failing confidence and doubt, would
have filled you with pity.
Pott gained the bridge, where in a mo-
merits halt he placed the violin within
its battered case; saw the reflected stars
of the mIllrace, and wondered If it would
timid glimpse of the lights of the town,
fright, the sounds of vehicles and voices
as is in pursuit. And then with a pitiful
call to Joe, he dashed along the old Aber
crombic road with dazed, underlined but
all. powerful impulse to reach that some.
thing, or somewhere, which would at last
assure safety.
On, on, he sped, the fancied pursuers
gaining. Startled stragglers from the out
lying farms took to their heels as he swept
by, like some ruesome wrath of the
night. Needless in his flight of all but
safety, at the forks of the road the fleeing
musician turned, bounded into the under
brush, stumbled blindly, and fell head
long among the dead leaves with IL des-
pairing moan, as the rumbling wagons,
filled only with registering farm hands,
ratified harmlessly by.
Then Door, simple Pott, lying there
among the leaves, burst into tears, and
faithful Joe, true and helpful to the last,
crept up beside HIM, pushed his face
against his masters, kissed it in his dog
fashion, and whined to comfort him.
After a little time the Professor petted
the brute, but could only say, Joe, Joel
YOU miserable loving dogl we're in hard,
hard luckl ch, Joe?" And Joe could not
deny it.
From just over the little knoll where
they were lying came the whipping
sounds of running water; and the two
were shortly refreshing themselves at the
little stream which the Professor found
struggled across an unused road that
wound to the summit of a hill beyond.
He beat the dust from his clothing, took
l,nu L., q, Fr,,o &c A. 80. Iii -